66 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY. 



amount of adhesion has taken place between the skin and 

 cartilage. 



A third operation,^ which seems to give by far the best and 

 quickest result, is performed as follows : The ear is carefully 

 washed and dried with antiseptic precautions, the hair being 

 removed, and a plug of dry wadding placed in the aural orifice ; 

 the parts are painted with a strong solution of cocaine, or the 

 animal is anaesthetised, and a good longitudinal incision made 

 in the under surface. Every particle of clot or fluid is then 

 most carefully removed, and the edges and interior of the 

 wound are dried with aseptic wadding. Suture material is 

 passed at intervals of about a quarter of an inch right through 

 the flap from above to below, across the incision and again to 

 the upper surface, upon which each suture is tied in a surgical 

 knot. The object of this is to produce a firm pressure on the 

 internal surfaces, and at the same time to bring the edges of the 

 incision in contact with each other. This having been com- 

 pleted, and the parts again carefully dried, the whole ear is 

 placed in a pad of antiseptic wadding and bandaged firmly to 

 the head ; a cap or net placed over this is of advantage if the 

 animal attempts to remove it. 



After-treatment consists in examining the wound once or 

 twice daily, pressing out any fluid which may be present, care- 

 fully drying and bandaging again with antiseptic wadding. 



The average length of time required to eiTect a cure is about 

 ten days ; in some cases the bandage can be left off" within a 

 week, in other cases it will be found necessary to keep up the 

 treatment for a fortnight or even three weeks. 



Whichever method of operating is adopted, it will always be 

 found of advantage in the dog to utilise the bandage or ear-cap 

 in order to protect the animal from shaking the head and again 

 bruising the ear. Proper caps or nets for the purpose can be 

 purchased, but an improvised one can readily be made from a 

 piece of linen and a few pieces of tape, which tie underneath the 

 throat and jaw. 



1 This operation was first suggested to me by my colleague, Professor M'Queen. 



